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The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall shared a rare public kiss as they were formally welcomed to Singapore with a ceremony of military pomp and pageantry.

Charles and Camilla were greeted by the City state's first female president Halimah Yacob, with the prince inspecting a guard of honour in the grounds of Istana, the official home of the head of state.

In hot and humid conditions Charles, who wore his medals, walked past a line of soldiers dressed in their immaculate white uniforms. The heir to the throne and the president then held a meeting inside the historic late 19th-century residence.

The presidency of Ms Yacob, a former speaker of parliament from the Muslim Malay minority, has proved controversial after claims the appointment in September was undemocratic. She did not face a vote as the authorities said other candidates did not meet strict eligibility criteria.

The royal couple are on an 11-day tour of south-east Asia and India at the request of the Government.

The Prince was joined by the Duchess of Cornwall for the meeting with the President and the royal couple also sat down for talks with Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

The Prince of Wales lays a wreath at the Cenotaph in SingaporeCredit:
Yui Mok/ PA

Later, Charles and Camilla paid their respects to Singapore's war dead during a ceremony at the Cenotaph memorial.

The royal couple stood with other dignitaries, military veterans and serving personnel to observe a minute's silence, and Charles laid a wreath with the blooms made into the shape of the Prince of Wales's feathers.

A handwritten card left by the prince, in his distinctive black lettering, read: "In grateful remembrance of your service and sacrifice - Charles."